Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of the Redwood Falls City Council was called to order in the Municipal Chambers on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Corey Theis and Council Members Paul DeBlieck, Matt Smith, Larry Arentson, Jim Sandgren and John T. Buckley were present constituting a quorum.
Also present were City Administrator Keith Muetzel, Director of Finance & Administrative Services Melissa Meyer, Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering, City Attorney Amy Busse and Council Secretary Amy Kerkhoff.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member DeBlieck approving the agenda with the following amendment: Move Consent Agenda Item 6.B. “Declare Parks and Recreation Curling Equipment as Surplus Property” to the Regular Agenda as Item 9.E. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member DeBlieck approving the April 17, 2018, minutes as presented. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member DeBlieck unanimously approving the following items of the Consent Agenda.
1. Request from NU-Telecom for Temporary Street Closure.
2. Hospital OB Equipment as Surplus Property.
3. Voting Equipment as Surplus Property.
4. Hospital Camera/DVR Security Replacement.
5. Recommendations from Hospital Credentialing Committee.
City Administrator Keith Muetzel discussed a request from Jim Heidecker on behalf of Southside Storage to rezone the property located at 211 North Patten Street from R-4 zoning designation to a B-2 zoning designation to construct commercial storage buildings.
Jim and Richard Heidecker were present to discuss the request.
Mr. Muetzel stated the proposed Ordinance was introduced at the April 17, 2018, City Council meeting. The Planning Commission felt the rezoning of the property was appropriate since the property borders several commercial properties with similar uses.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member DeBlieck to approve Ordinance No. 61, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending Zoning Ordinance. Motion was passed by the following roll call vote.
AYE: Council Members DeBlieck, Smith, Arentson, Sandgren and Buckley.
NO: No one
Amended Resolution No. 24 of 2018 – In the Matter of the Orderly Annexation between the City of Redwood Falls and Redwood Township Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 414.0325 was presented by City Administrator Keith Muetzel.
Mr. Muetzel stated on April 3, 2018, the City Council approved Resolution No. 24 of 2018, for a joint resolution with Redwood Township for an orderly annexation of property owned by Joe Thielen. Once approved, the resolution along with other documentation was sent to the Office of Administrative Hearings where an administrative law judge reviews the submitted documents to approve or deny the annexation request. On April 23, 2018, City Attorney Amy Busse was contacted by the Office of Administrative Hearings stating the annexation could be approved, but there was a 33-foot gap between the current City limits and Mr. Thielen’s property. As such, the 33-foot gap is still apart of Redwood Township and needs to be annexed into City limits. After inspection, the 33-foot strip of land is the southerly portion of Normandale Road which is owned by the City.
Mr. Muetzel stated the property could be annexed into the City limits by amending Resolution No. 24 of 2018, to include the legal description for the 33-feet of property, requiring Redwood Township and the City to approve and sign the amended resolution.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Amended Resolution No. 24 of 2018 – In the Matter of the Orderly Annexation between the City of Redwood Falls and Redwood Township Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 414.0325. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member DeBlieck and seconded by Council Member Sandgren approving Amended Resolution No. 24 of 2018 – In the Matter of the Orderly Annexation between the City of Redwood Falls and Redwood Township Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 414.0325. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
Mayor Corey Theis presented Police Officer Tony Evans with a Chief’s Commendation Award.
Mayor Theis stated on March 17, 2018, Officer Evans was dispatched to a residence in Redwood Falls for a possible drug overdose. Upon arriving, Officer Evans found a non-responsive patient who was not breathing. While assisting the Redwood County Sherriff Deputies initiated CPR, Officer Evans assessed the situation and administered Naloxone to the patient. Naloxone, known as Narcan, is an opiate antidote used during an overdose and is carried by the Redwood Falls Police Department personnel. After administering the naloxone, the patient began breathing normally and was turned over to the care of North Ambulance. The Redwood County Deputies and North Ambulance Emergency Responder’s credit Officer Evans action for saving the patient’s life.
North Memorial Health Regional Manager Dan DeSmet was present to give a presentation on North Memorial Health and discuss the Ambulance Service Agreement between the City and North Memorial Health.
City Administrator Keith Muetzel stated in 1989, the City entered into an agreement with North Memorial Health (NMH) to operate an ambulance service in the Redwood Falls area replacing the ambulance service operated by the City’s Fire Department. In 1994, there was an update to extend the original agreement.
City Attorney Amy Busse stated a few conditions were updated to make the agreement more current. The only material change requested by NMH is for the automatic renewal of the agreement to be changed to a five (5) year term instead of an annual renewal. The agreement allows for the City to terminate the agreement at any time. Staff recommends approval of the agreement.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member DeBlieck approving the Ambulance Service Agreement between the City of Redwood Falls and North Memorial Health. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Keith Muetzel discussed a Downtown Commercial Rehab Loan Application submitted by Chad and Amy Lund.
Mr. Muetzel stated Mr. and Mrs. Lund applied for financial assistance with the renovation of the commercial building located at 229 South Mill Street. The renovation project consists of tuck-pointing the building’s exterior. The total cost of eligible improvements is expected not to exceed $9,000. The applicant is requesting a $3,000 low-interest loan and a $3,000 forgivable loan (grant) from the Downtown Commercial Rehabilitation Revolving Loan Program. The application complies with the guidelines and requirements of the loan program and staff recommends approval of the request.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Sandgren approving Chad and Amy Lund’s Downtown Commercial Rehabilitation Revolving Loan Application. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
Resolution No. 27 of 2018 – Authorization to Execute Award of Contract for the 2018 Seal Coat Improvements Project was presented by Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering.
Mr. Doering stated in response to the Advertisement for Bids, the City received three (3) proposals for construction of the 2018 Seal Coat Improvements Project. The proposals were opened and publicly read at 10:00 a.m. on April 26, 2018. The low responsible bidder was Allied Blacktop of Maple Grove with a bid of $266,691.55. The other bids ranged up to $286,783.15.
Mr. Doering stated the current approved budget is $250,000 in the street maintenance account. The anticipated start date would be after August 1, 2018, to allow the Street Department time for patching and bituminous maintenance of the project area which is budgeted for $75,000. The project area consists of all streets west of CSAH 101, north of TH 19/71 and east of TH 19 MnDOT Bridge.
Mr. Doering stated in addition to seal coating streets, the project scope includes seal coating the public parking lot by ELCA Synod office, Johnson Park trails, Ramsey Park parking lots and roadways and the River Link Trail down to South Main Street, and Ramsey Falls. Parks budgeted $25,000 to cover costs relating to the seal coating of the trails and the parking lots.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member DeBlieck to waive the reading of Resolution No. 27 of 2018 – Authorization to Execute Award of Contract for the 2018 Seal Coat Improvements. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member DeBlieck approving Resolution No. 27 of 2018 – Authorization to Execute Award of Contract for the 2018 Seal Coat Improvements. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Keith Muetzel discussed the Parks and Recreation Department’s request to declare curling equipment as surplus property and authorize the sale of equipment.
Mr. Muetzel stated in 2008, the Redwood Area Community Center (RACC) members had interest in forming an adult curling league. At the time, the City purchased the equipment for one (1) curling lane. The league was a success for approximately seven (7) years and for the past five (5) years, members of the RACC have lost interest in the sport. The equipment consists of sixteen (16) stones, fifteen (15) brooms and four (4) hacks. Staff estimates selling the equipment in the amount of $2,970.
A motion made by Council Member DeBlieck and seconded by Council Member Smith to table the declaration of surplus property and authorization for sale of curling stones and curling equipment until the May 15, 2018, City Council meeting. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
Mayor Corey Theis stated the Celebrate Redwood Falls NighFalls Event is scheduled for Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5 from 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Ramsey Park.
City Administrator Keith Muetzel stated that Tuesday, May 22 and Thursday, May 31 have been tentatively scheduled to host a public information event to discuss the affiliation of the Redwood Area Hospital with CentraCare Health and Carris Health. The events will be held at the Redwood Area Community Center at 6:00 p.m.
Bills and Claims were presented to the Council for informational purposes. No questions, comments or concerns were raised.
There being no further business, a motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to adjourn the meeting at 5:33 p.m. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.